How to increase/decrease evenly!

How to calculate where to inc/dec when pattern says "inc/dec evenly" - You can use this lesson's tips both in knitting and crocheting:

Increase evenly:
The pattern tells you to increase a number of stitches evenly.

Example 1: You have 100 sts and you shall increase 16 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 100 divided by 16 and you will get 6.25.
The number you get should be rounded down to full or half number.
In this example we will round it down to 6. So you should inc after every 6th stitch like this: Work 6 sts, make 1st inc, work 6 sts, make 2nd inc, work 6 sts, make 3rd inc, work 6 sts, make 4th inc, and continue like this. After your 16th increase you will have 4 sts left on row to work.

Example 2: You have 140 sts and you shall increase 21 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 140 divided by 21 and you will get 6.66.
The number you get should be rounded down to full or half number.
In this example we will round it down to 6.5. So you should inc after alternating every 6th and 7th stitch like this: Work 6 sts, make 1st inc, work 7 sts, make 2nd inc, work 6 sts, make 3rd inc, work 7 sts, make 4th inc, and continue like this. After your 21st increase you will have 4 sts left on row to work.

Example 3: You have 48 sts and you shall increase 12 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 48 divided by 12 and you will get 4.
If you get an even number and you are working in the round, then it's easy and you can just inc with that number of stitches between each inc.
But if you are working rows back and forth and shall inc every 4th stitch like in this example, then you would have to make an inc after the last stitch on row, which you can't. To avoid this you work a couple less stitches before first inc like this:
Work 2 sts, make 1st inc, work 4 sts, make 2nd inc, work 4 sts, make 3rd inc, work 4 sts, make 4th inc, and continue like this. After your 12th increase you will have 2 sts left on row to work.

Decrease evenly: The pattern tells you to decrease a number of stitches evenly.

Example 1: You have 100 sts and you shall decrease 16 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 100 divided by 16 and you will get 6.25.
If the number is less than .5 then always round the number down, so in this example we round it down to 6.
To make decreases in every 6th stitch, means that you work together every 5th and 6th stitch like this: Work 4 sts, K2tog (5th and 6th sts), work 4 sts, K2tog, work 4 sts, K2tog, and continue like this. After your 16th K2tog you will have 4 sts left on row to work.

Example 2: You have 140 sts and you shall decrease 30 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 140 divided by 30 and you will get 4.66.
When the number is more than .5 you will have to alternate your decreases between lower and higher number. In this example this means we will alternate dec in every 4th and 5th st, like this:
Work 2 sts, K2tog (3rd and 4th sts), work 3 sts, K2tog (4th and 5th), work 2 sts, K2tog, work 3 sts, K2tog, and continue like this. After your 30th K2tog you will have 5 sts left on row to work.

Example 3: You have 48 sts and you shall decrease 12 sts evenly.
Use a calculator and enter 48 divided by 12 and you will get 4.
In this example this means we will dec in every 4th st, like this:
Work 2 sts, K2tog (3rd and 4th sts), work 2 sts, K2tog, work 2 sts, K2tog, and continue like this. After your 12th K2tog you'll have no sts left on row to work.

Comments (192)

Joanne wrote:

Hei, Jeg har 100 m og det stå at jeg skal 'jenvt fordelt på omg gjøres 30 kast? Kan du hjelpe meg med dette ( nybegynner) :)

12.03.2020 - 10:47:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Joanne.). Du har 100 maskene og deler på 30 (de maskene som skal økes jevnt fordelt) = 3,33. Da gjør du kast mellom hver 3. og 4. maske. Men siden det er mellom hver 3,33 maske bør det også økes noen ganger mellom 5. og 6. maske (ca ved hver 5. økning). God Fornøyelse!

23.03.2020 - 07:22:

Victoria wrote:

Hej! Jag har 305 m som jag ska minska med 52 m med hjälp av 26 döhpt till 253 m. Får det inte att stämma, kan du hjälpa?

30.01.2020 - 05:28:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Victoria, da strikker du ca hver 5 og 6 maske sammen :)

11.02.2020 - 14:04:

Nina Næss wrote:

Hei jeg skal øke jevnt fordelt på rundpunne. Jeg har 188 m og skal øke med 150 m. Jeg får 1.25. Hvordan fordele det jevnt?

13.01.2020 - 16:58:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Nina. Da strikker du 2 masker, så øke, strikk 1 maske så øke, og gjenta dette ongange/raden ut. God Fornøyelse!

27.01.2020 - 08:02:

Patti Urso wrote:

When A.2B is done, work the first 6 rounds in A.2A over A.2B – on round marked with arrow increase 48-54-60 double crochets evenly = 240-264-288 double crochets. Then repeat A.2A 40-44-48 times in width. Continue until 6th round in A.2A (= round after round with arrow) = 80-88-96 chain spaces. The piece measures approx. 32 cm = 12 1/2” in all sizes.“ The increase happens over the chains (loops)o A.2A diagram in Row 5- where the arrow indicates the increase

04.12.2019 - 03:08:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Urso, you are working A.2A a total of 34 times in width in size L/XL, ie there are 34x2= 68 ch-spaces/6 sts x 34 = 204 sts. Divide 204 by 42 inc = 4.8 = you will increase every 5th dc = work 3 dc in each ch-space and at the same time work 2 dc instead of just one every 5th dc a total of 42 times in the round. ie you will have in each ch-space either 3 dc or 4 dc (= where you have increased). Happy crocheting!

04.12.2019 - 09:03:

Patti Urso wrote:

I am working on the Mermaid Shells Poncho L/XL

03.12.2019 - 01:01:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Urso, could you please tell us where exactly you are in the Mermaid shell pattern? I can find a "264sts" but any 70 sts. Thank you!

03.12.2019 - 13:07:

Patti Urso wrote:

I have 70 loops and have to fit 264 stitches evenly. Can you hel?

02.12.2019 - 02:20:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Urso, which pattern are you working on?

02.12.2019 - 12:48:

Mariechristine wrote:

Buonasera Ho 135 maglie e devo diminuire 35 maglie in modo uniforme. Se divido 135 per 35 ottengo 3,85 Poi sono persa. Grazie

26.10.2019 - 23:21:

Gertrud wrote:

Jag ska göra minskningar men får inte mönstret att stämma?!

11.10.2019 - 20:03:

DROPS Design answered:

Hei Gertrud. Fint om du legger ditt spørsmål under den oppskriften du strikker, så kan vi hjelpe deg. Nå ligger ditt spørsmål under generell forklaring til Øke/felle jevnt fordelt. mvh DROPS design

14.10.2019 - 09:59:

Åsa Wrede wrote:

Och om man räknar till 7,5 precis, ska det rundas upp eller ner vid minskning? Det framgår inte :(

02.10.2019 - 13:25:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Åsa, da må du tælle ned, ellers har du ikke nok masker når du minsker ;)

03.10.2019 - 14:47:

Amandine wrote:

Hello, I m starting at 120 stiches, and i must do the following instructions: 'work 2 rounds stocking st, at the same time increase evenly to 180 sts.' Do i increase both rows of 60 stiches ? I divide my work into back / front / 2 sleeves. I need to do 'place the next 49 sts on a holder for sleeve, cast on 13 new sts under the sleeve', i don't get the 'under the sleeve' Thanks a lot for answers

22.09.2019 - 15:10:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Amandine, to increase from 120 to 180 stitches on a single round, use the Example 3- above - Could you please post your question under the pattern you are working on? It would be easier if we could read the pattern to answer your question properly, thank you. Happy knitting!

23.09.2019 - 10:37:

Anca-Elena Popa wrote:

Hello! I have to increase evenly 37 stitches across a row of 105 stitches. When I divide 105 by 37 I get 2,88. Would you mind helping me understand how I have to do the increase? Thanks

02.09.2019 - 18:36:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Mrs Popa, this is as Example 2 is explaining, ie the number has to be rounded down to full or half number. In this example you will increase after alternately each 2nd and each 3rd stitch. Make sure you have the correct number of increase/stitches as you work. Happy knitting!

03.09.2019 - 09:10:

Véronique wrote:

Bonjour je fais un bonnet ou je dois faire des diminutions sur 110 mailles l explication est la suivante tricoter 3 mailles *2dim 4 m sur tout le rang *terminer par 3m ensuite continuer ces diminution .en colonne encore 4 fois comment procéder dans ce cas toujours 4mailles puis 2 ens ? Merci de votre réponse

04.06.2019 - 00:01:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Véronique, pour aligner les diminutions les unes au-dessus des autres, vous devrez à priori diminuer le nombre de mailles tricotées entre chaque diminution à chaque tour, si au 1er tour vous tricotez: 2 diminutions (= 2 fois 2 m ens à l'end par ex), 4 m end, au tour suivant de diminutions, tricotez: 2 diminutions (= 2 x 2 m ens à l'end par ex), 3 m end (puis 2 m end, et enfin 1 m end la 4ème fois). Vérifiez toutefois avec le nombre de mailles de votre modèle que tout est juste. Bon tricot!

04.06.2019 - 08:38:

DANIELLE wrote:

Bonjour, question pour le modèle n° ME-012-by Sur 272 m. répartir 56 diminutions qui donnera 216 m. Je n'arrive pas a trouver la formule magique. Merci infiniment. Danielle,

27.05.2019 - 01:02:

DROPS Design answered:

Bonjour Danielle, divisez 272 par 56 = 4.8 - vous êtes donc dans l'exemple 2 de "Répartir des diminutions", vous pouvez suivre l'exemple indiqué: Tricotez 2 m, tricotez 2 m ens (la 3ème et la 4ème m), tricotez 3 m, tricotez 2 m ens (la 4ème et la 5ème m), tricotez 2 m, tricotez 2 m ens, tricotez 3 m, tricotez 2 m ens, et continuez ainsi - pensez toujours à bien vérifier notre nombre de mailles/de diminutions. Bon tricot!

27.05.2019 - 13:37:

Petra wrote:

If I do increasing elvenly across the row I take the number of total stich which I start or the number of which I m now for example I start on 100 stitches I had to decrease some number of stitches I left on 90 stitches and now I have to increase elvenly across the row so I will count 90 stitches in total?

12.05.2019 - 19:05:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Petra, you count the number of stitches you have on needle before increasing, ie in Example 1 above, you have 100 sts and inc 16 sts evenly = there will be 116 sts at the end of this row. Happy knitting!

13.05.2019 - 11:12:

Tania wrote:

How to increase stitches on round knitting? example knitting a hat. i've got confused when the pattern said to increase 4 sts evenly around on 80 sts before. what methods i should use to increasing stitches?

10.05.2019 - 16:07:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Tania, you have 80 sts and should increase 4 sts evenly on next round/row, use example 3: divide 80 by 4 = 20 - you will work (20 sts, inc 1 st), repeat from (to) around = 4 sts increased = 84 stitches at the end of this row/round. Happy knitting!

13.05.2019 - 11:07:

Mehwish wrote:

Hei. Jeg har 158 masker som jeg skal felle jevnt fordelt til 134 masker. Når jeg deler 158:134 får jeg 1,17. Hvordan skal jeg felle da? Takk for hjelpen :)

01.04.2019 - 00:36:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej, 158-134 = 24 masker som skal tages ind, 158/24 = 6,5 det vil sige at du skal strikke skiftevis hver 5.og6. maske og hver 6.og7.m sammen. God fornøjelse!

03.05.2019 - 13:31:

Eva wrote:

Hei. Jeg holder på og strikke genser med rundfelling.I siden på mønsteret så står det:fell her ved og strikke 6 m r og 2 r sammen? Gjelder det hele omgangen rundt? Og lenger opp står det fell som vist i diagrammet? Gjelder det også hele omgangen?Synes dette var litt vrient og forstå jeg.😮

21.03.2019 - 11:10:

DROPS Design answered:

Hej Eva, vil du skrive dit spørgsmål ind under kommentarer i selve opskriften, så kan vi ud fra opskriften hjælpe dig med dit spørgsmål. Husk at markere det som et spørgsmål. Tak :)

03.05.2019 - 14:18:

Marie Klokanová wrote:

Dobrý den, ujímání jako takové chápu, ale v některých návodech máte, že se uplete nějaký počet ok a zároveň na nimy se určitý počet ujímá...nechápu jak mám ujímat na okem. Děkuji za vysvětlení Klokanová.

25.01.2019 - 07:45:

DROPS Design answered:

Dobrý den, Marie, ve zmíněných případech jde o to, že ujímání není rovnoměrně rozprostřeno do celé řady, ale je soustředěné jen na určitý úsek pleteniny (např. ujímá se jen v sekvenci vzoru, v copáncích a podobně). To znamená, že ujímáte stejným způsobem, jako obvykle, ale jen "nad" daným počtem ok (nebo mezi nimi, chcete-li). Hodně zdaru! Hana

02.04.2019 - 16:10:

Sarah wrote:

Hi - I’m knitting a Beanie hat and need to decrease from 148 down to 18 stitches, but within 21 rows (in order to obtain the correct height) I’m getting myself very confused on how to do this - can you advise?!

01.01.2019 - 22:49:

DROPS Design answered:

Dear Sarah, we are unfortunately not able to answer every technical question without any pattern, for any individual assistance please contact the store where you bought the yarn. Thanks for your comprehension. Happy knitting!

02.01.2019 - 12:52:

Carmen Hernández wrote: